The New Orleans Hornets announced today that they have signed nine free agents (Brian Butch, Justin Dentmon, Jerome Dyson, Moses Ehambe, Carldell Johnson, Trey Johnson, DaJuan Summers, Lance Thomas and Terrico White). Per team policy, terms of the contracts were not released. The addition of the players puts the training camp roster at 15 thus far.

Butch (6-11, 240) sat out the 2010-11 season with a knee injury sustained last summer as a member of the Denver Nuggets. Butch has NBA experience with the Memphis Grizzlies summer league team and the Boston Celtics veteran minicamp, but has never appeared in a game. The Wisconsin product has played professionally in Greece, Spain, China and Germany during his career. During the 2009 season, he played for the Bakersfield Jam averaging 17.7 points and 11.9 rebounds earning a spot on the D-League Western Conference All-Star Team where he was named MVP.

Dentmon (5-11, 185) played in 50 games (35 starts) for the Texas Legends of the NBA D-League last season averaging 19.1 points, 4.0 assists and 3.5 rebounds. The University of Washington product was selected as a member of the 2011 USA Menís Basketball team that took home a Bronze medal in the Pan American Games this fall.

Dyson (6-3, 180) has appeared in six games (all starts) for the Tulsa 66ers of the NBA D-League this season averaging 19.7 points, 3.3 assists and 3.0 rebounds. During the 2010-11 season with the 66ers, the UCONN product played in 47 games (10 starts) averaging 15.5 points, 3.1 rebounds and 2.3 assists.

Ehamber (6-6, 215) has played in 125 career games in the NBA D-League over four seasons with Tulsa, Iowa and Austin. This season, the Oral Roberts product has averaged 21.5 points and 4.7 rebounds in six games (all starts). Ehamber finished last season with the Toros, averaging 10.2 points and 2.1 rebounds in 10 games.

Trey Johnson (6-5, 218) has played in 12 games over three seasons in the NBA for the Cleveland Cavaliers, Toronto Raptors and the Los Angeles Lakers with averages of 3.2 points and 0.9 assists. He appeared in three playoff games for the Lakers in the 2011 NBA Playoffs, averaging 1.0 points and 1.3 rebounds. In 10 preseason games with the Hornets and Lakers, the Jackson State product averaged 3.4 points and 1.5 rebounds. He has spent the majority of his professional career with the Bakersfield Jam of the NBA D-League. In 114 career games (92 starts) with the Jam, Johnson has averaged 20.7 points, 3.8 rebounds and 4.7 assists.

Carldell Johnson (5-10, 180) has appeared in 195 career games (102 starts) with the Austin Toros of the NBA D-League since 2007, averaging 8.0 points and 4.4 assists. In four games this season with Austin, he is averaging 14.8 points and 4.8 assists. The New Orleans native appeared in 46 games (all starts) for the Toros last season, averaging 12.3 points and a career-high 6.0 assists.

Summers (6-8, 240) was drafted in the second round of the 2009 NBA Draft (35th overall) by the Detroit Pistons. In 66 career games (one start) he has averages of 3.2 points and 1.0 rebounds in 9.2 minutes with Detroit. The Georgetown product signed with Montepaschi Siena in Italy in July of 2011, but parted ways with the team in October after averaging 4.0 points in four games with the team.

Thomas (6-8, 225) played for the Austin Toros of the NBA D-League the last two seasons. The Duke product averaged 17.3 points and 10.3 rebounds in four games this season for Austin. In the 2010-11 season, he averaged 12.6 points and 5.5 rebounds in 46 games.

White (6-5, 213) was drafted in the second round (36th overall) of the 2010 NBA Draft by the Detroit Pistons. In his first preseason appearance, White fractured his right foot and missed the remainder of his rookie season. The Ole Miss product averaged 15.1 points and 4.0 rebounds in 35 games (34 starts) his sophomore season in Oxford before declaring for the NBA Draft.

idizzle

12-12-2011 10:06 PM

Re: Hornets add 9 players to 2011-12 training camp

I like Terrico White. Some have compared him to Tyreke Evans and Rodney Stuckey.